In 1869, the island of Hokkaido, Japan was divided into 11 provinces and 86 districts. The majority of Japan's former provinces were converted into prefectures by the Meiji government between 1870 and 1876.[1]
The Hokkaido provinces were dissolved in 1882, and replaced with Hakodate Prefecture, Sapporo Prefecture and Nemuro Prefecture. In 1886, the three prefectures were replaced with Hokkaidō-chō (北海道庁).
List of provinces
The former provinces of Hokkaido are listed below with their districts.
Oshima Province
Oshima Province (渡島国, Oshima-no kuni):[2] Presently the southern part of modern-day Oshima and Hiyama Subprefectures. Districts included:
Utasutsu (歌棄郡) – dissolved on January 15, 1955 when Utasutsu Village was incorporated into Suttsu Town (in Suttsu District); Neppu Village was merged with Suttsu District's Kuromatsunai Village and part of Tarukishi Village to create Sanwa Village (now Kuromatsunai Town)
Tōbui (当縁郡) – dissolved on April 1, 1906 when 3 villages merged into Moyori Village (now Hiroo Town) in Hiroo District and two villages merged with Ōtsu Village in Tokachi District
Etorofu (択捉郡) – occupied and administered by Russia
Furebetsu (振別郡) – dissolved on April, 1923 when its villages merged with several villages in Shana and Etorofu Districts to create the village of Rubetsu (in Etorofu)
Shana (紗那郡) – occupied and administered by Russia
Shibetoro (蘂取郡) – occupied and administered by Russia
Shikotan (色丹郡) – split off from Hanasaki District in 1885; currently occupied and administered by Russia